Hydrogen supplemental system for on-demand hydrogen generation for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

A hydrogen generation system for producing hydrogen and injecting the hydrogen as a fuel supplement into the air intake of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced with a fuel cell at low temperatures and pressure from water in a supply tank. The hydrogen is directed to the air intake of the engine while the oxygen is vented to the atmosphere. The device is powered by the vehicle battery. The system utilizes an engine sensor that permits power to the system only when the engine is in operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No.13/224,338, filed Sep. 2, 2011 which is a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/790,398, filed May 28, 2010,the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hydrogen generation devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a hydrogen supplementalsystem that can be used with internal combustion engines for increasedfuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are a number of devices on the market that create HHO gas,otherwise known as Brown's gas, which is used as a supplement togasoline and diesel engines. HHO gas consists of two parts hydrogen toone part oxygen. These devices typically comprise an electrolyzer whichdecomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen. An example is U.S. Pat. No.4,368,696. These electrolyzers typically use an electrolyte, mostnotably KOH, Potassium hydroxide, or baking soda. A voltage is placedacross the device to produce the HHO gas.

The main problem with most of these devices is that the energy requiredto produce the hydrogen creates a substantial load on the electricalsystem of the vehicle. Similar to running the air conditioner in anyvehicle, the additional electrical load causes the miles per gallons tobe reduced. Even though the hydrogen typically boosts the efficiency andmiles per gallon of the vehicle, the additional electrical load on thevehicle to create the hydrogen is usually great enough to minimize or inmany cases negate most or all of mileage gains of the vehicle.

Also, most HHO systems produce the hydrogen and oxygen in a combined gasstream. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are not generally separated fromeach other. In the case of modern gasoline powered vehicles, this extraoxygen is detected by the vehicle's oxygen sensors which communicatethis extra oxygen level to an on-board computer, namely and ElectronicControl Unit ECU of the vehicle. When the ECU detects this extra oxygen,it is a signal that the engine is running lean and the ECU adds moregasoline to the engine. This also negates most of the fuel efficiencygains.

Furthermore, HHO systems generally use either baking soda or PotassiumHydroxide KOH. KOH is generally preferred over baking soda because ofits stability and because it causes less deterioration of stainlesssteel plates or other plates used in the electrolyzer. However, KOH hasto be handled with care because it is caustic, and the crystals can bedangerous if not handled properly. The electrolyte normally has to beinserted into the unit at the proper proportions for optimum operationof the electrolyzer. Extreme care must be taken when using it. It is notthe type of product you would generally like to put in the hands of aninexperienced consumer.

Complex installation is another issue with typical HHO systems. Spaceusually has to be found somewhere in the engine compartment or outsidethe vehicle. Since all vehicles are different, finding a suitable spotunder the hood to install the device in many vehicles is next toimpossible. Also, the systems are typically connected into theelectrical systems of the vehicles which can cause blown fuses and ahost of other problems if not installed properly. Hydrogen is onlyneeded when the vehicle is actually running, not when the ignition isturned on. During the installation, care must be observed to make surethe electrical power is provided to the device only when the engine isrunning. Otherwise there can be hydrogen accumulation in the air intake.This further complicates the installation of these systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable and compact, on-demandhydrogen supplemental system for producing hydrogen gas and injectingthe hydrogen gas into the air intake of internal combustion engines,particularly for vehicles. Hydrogen and oxygen is produced by a fuelcell at low temperatures and pressure from water in a supply tank. Thehydrogen gas and oxygen gas is passed back thru the supply tank fordistribution and water preservation. The gases are kept separate by adivider in the tank and the water level in the tank. In the case ofgasoline engines, the hydrogen gas is directed to the air intake of theengine while the oxygen gas is optionally vented to the atmosphere. Thedevice can be powered by the vehicles alternator, a stand alone battery,waste heat or solar energy. The system utilizes a vacuum switch or otherengine sensor that regulates power to the system and therefore hydrogenproduction for the engine only occurs when the engine is running.Therefore as the hydrogen is produced it is immediately consumed by theengine. No hydrogen is stored on, in or around the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and a better understanding of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of exampleembodiments and the claims when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, all forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. Whilethe foregoing and following written and illustrated disclosure focuseson disclosing example embodiments of the invention, it should be clearlyunderstood that the same is by way of illustration and example only andthe invention is not limited thereto, wherein in the following briefdescription of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a detailed drawing of a portable hydrogen supplemental systemshowing a water tank and housing design according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing a portable hydrogen supplemental systeminstalled in a typical vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation and details of a PEMelectrolyzer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of another embodiment of the water tank 6 accordingto the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-B are diagrams of another embodiment of a mounting bracket 3according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an embodiment of the control circuit 50 accordingto the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention as will be described in greater detail belowprovides an apparatus, method and system, particularly, for example, ahydrogen supplemental system used to increase the fuel efficiency andreduce carbon emissions for internal combustion engines. The presentinvention provides various embodiments as described below. However itshould be noted that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described herein, but could extend to other embodiments aswould be known or as would become known to those skilled in the art.

The present invention as shown in FIG. 1 provides a portable hydrogensupplemental system 1 which includes a housing unit 2 that can besecured in the trunk or other flat surface of a vehicle by mountingbracket 3 and fastening units 4. Inside the housing unit 2 are a fuelcell 5 and a nonelectrolyte water tank 6 positioned above the fuel cell5 arranged in such a manner as to supply nonelectrolyte water 7 to thefuel cell by gravity. As shown the fuel cell 5 is external of the watertank 6. The water tank 6 is supported in the housing unit 2 above thefuel cell 5 by supporting means 8. The housing unit 2 is designed to bereadily removable from the mounting bracket 3.

The water tank 6 includes a water supply fitting 9 positioned on theunderside thereof connected to a tube or other supply means 10 that isin turn connected to water inlet fitting 11 on the fuel cell 5.Nonelectrolyte water 7 is supplied to the fuel cell 5 by the supplymeans 10. The fuel cell 5 also includes a hydrogen gas outlet fittings12 and an oxygen gas outlet fitting 13 which are connected by tubes oradditional supply means 14 and 15 to gas inlet fittings 16 on theunderside of the water tank 6. The water tank 6 includes at least onedivider 17 that divides the tank 6 into at least two sections, ahydrogen section 18 and an oxygen section 19. The divider 17 is formedalong the inner wall of the tank 6 and extends to approximately ¼″ fromthe bottom surface 20 of the tank 6. The tank 6 includes a fill spout 21which permits the tank 6 to be filled with nonelectrolyte water 7. Asnonelectrolyte water 7 is placed into the tank 6, the tank 6 fillsevenly on both sides of the divider 17.

The fuel cell 5, which is commonly known to produce electricity, isoperated in reverse to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. Thus, the fuelcell 5 essentially operates as an electrolyzer, which as described abovedecomposes nonelectrolyte water 7 into hydrogen and oxygen and ishereinafter referred to as an electrolyzer 5. Nonelectrolyte water 7fills the electrolyzer 5 from the water tank 6 and when a voltage,having positive and negative terminals, is placed across theelectrolyzer 5, hydrogen and oxygen gases are produced on opposing sidesof the electrolyzer 5.

According to the invention the electrolyzer 5 can, for example, be aproton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)electrolyzer. A PEM electrolyzer includes a semipermeable membranegenerally made from ionomers and designed to conduct protons while beingimpermeable to gases such as oxygen or hydrogen. This is their essentialfunction when incorporated into a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of aproton exchange membrane fuel cell or of a proton exchange membraneelectrolyzer: separation of reactants and transport of protons.

As known an electrolyzer is a device that generates hydrogen and oxygenfrom water through the application of electricity and includes a seriesof plates through which water flows while low voltage direct current isapplied. Electrolyzers split the water into hydrogen and oxygen gases bythe passage of electricity, normally by breaking down compounds intoelements or simpler products.

A PEM electrolyzer is shown in FIG. 3. The PEM electrolyzer includes aplurality of layers which are non-liquid including at least two externallayers and an internal layer, including external electrodes 41 disposedopposite to each other one of which is the anode 41 a and the other ofwhich is the cathode 41 b, electrocatalysts 42 a and 42 b disposedrespectively on the anode 41 a and the cathode 41 b, and a membrane 43disposed between the electrocatalysts 42 a and 42 b. The PEMelectrolyzer further includes an external circuit 44 which applieselectrical power to the anode 41 a and the cathode 41 b in a manner suchthat electrical power in the form of electrons flow from the anode 41 a,along the external circuit 44, to the cathode 41 b and protons arecaused to flow through the membrane 43 from the anode 41 a to thecathode 41 b.

The efficiency of a PEM electrolyzer is a function primarily of itsmembrane and electro-catalyst performance. The membrane 43 includes asolid fluoropolymer which has been chemically altered in part to containsulphonic acid groups, SO₃H, which easily release their hydrogen aspositively-charged atoms or protons H⁺: SO₃H→SO₃ ⁻+H+

These ionic or charged forms allow water to penetrate into the membranestructure but not the product gases, namely molecular hydrogen H₂ andoxygen O₂. The resulting hydrated proton, H₃O⁺, is free to move whereasthe sulphonate ion SO₃ ⁻ remains fixed to the polymer side-chain. Thus,when an electric field is applied across the membrane 43 the hydratedprotons are attracted to the negatively charged electrode, known as thecathode 41 b. Since a moving charge is identical with electric current,the membrane 43 acts as a conductor of electricity. It is said to be aprotonic conductor.

A typical membrane material that is used is called “nafion”. Nafion is aperfluorinated polymer that contains small proportions of sulfonic orcarboxylic ionic functional groups.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, water, H2O, enters the electrolyzer 5and is split at the surface of the membrane 43 to form protons,electrons and gaseous oxygen. The gaseous oxygen leaves the electrolyzer5 while the protons move through the membrane 43 under the influence ofthe applied electric field and electrons move through the externalcircuit 44. The protons and electrons combine at the opposite surface,namely the negatively charged electrode, known as the cathode 41 b, toform pure gaseous hydrogen.

During operation of the electrolyzer 5, a small amount of nonelectrolytewater 7 may be contained in hydrogen gas bubbles 22 and oxygen gasbubbles 23 as they emerge from the hydrogen outlet 12 and oxygen outlet13, respectively, of the electrolyzer 5, and flow into the hydrogen side18 and oxygen side 19 of the tank 6. The bubbles rise (travel) thru thenonelectrolyte water 7 to upper air cavities 24 formed by the waterlevel in the tank 6 and the tank divider 17. Since the hydrogen andoxygen may contain a small amount of nonelectrolyte water 7, thehydrogen and oxygen gasses are passed back through the water tank 6 forwater preservation so that said small amount of nonelectrolyte water 7will remain in the tank 6 rather than be retained in the gases. Thehydrogen and oxygen gases are kept separate from each other in the uppercavities 24 by the divider 17 and water level in the tank 6. As thehydrogen gas and oxygen gas fill their respective upper cavities 24, thegas flows out of the upper cavities thru fittings 25 in the case ofhydrogen, and fitting 26, in the case of oxygen on the upper side of thetank. The hydrogen gas flows thru tube 27 connected to hydrogen fitting28 of the housing unit 2. The oxygen flows thru tube 29 connected tofitting 30 of the housing unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a vehicle 31 powered by a gasoline or diesel engine32 is equipped with the portable hydrogen supplemental system 1. Poweris supplied to the portable hydrogen supplemental system 1 by a vehiclebattery 33 connected to electrical wires 34. The electrical circuit tothe portable hydrogen supplemental system 1 includes a vacuum switch 35,or other engine sensor and an operator controlled switch 36 whichcompletes the electrical circuit to the portable hydrogen supplementalsystem 1 when the engine is running. Once power is supplied to theportable hydrogen supplemental system 1, hydrogen gas flows thruhydrogen outlet tube 37 connected to hydrogen fitting 28 of the housingunit 2 to an air intake 38 of the vehicle's engine 32. Oxygen gas flowsthru oxygen outlet tube 39 and, in the case of gasoline engines withoxygen sensors, is vented to the atmosphere. The two gasses canoptionally be combined for diesel engine vehicles or other internalcombustion engines without oxygen sensors.

An alternative embodiment of the water tank 6 is illustrated in FIG. 4.As per the water tank 6 as shown in FIG. 4 dividers 17 a and 17 b areprovided at opposite ends of the tank so as to divide the tank 6 into ahydrogen section 18 and an oxygen section 19. Each divider 17 a,b isformed along the inner wall of the tank 6 and extends to approximately¼″ from the bottom surface 20 of the tank 6. As nonelectrolyte water 7is placed into the tank 6, the tank 6 fills evenly on both sides of eachof the dividers 17 a and 17 b.

As described above according to the invention as the hydrogen gas andoxygen gas fill their respective upper cavities 24, the gas flows out ofthe upper cavities thru fitting 25 in the case of hydrogen, and fitting26, in the case of oxygen on the upper side of the tank. Alternativelythe fittings 25 and 26 can be replaced by gas collectors 45 and 46. Eachgas collector 45, 46 is constructed to contain baffles 47 a and 47 bthat serve to prevent water from splashing into or entering the tubes 27and 29. Each baffle 47 a,b is configured to extend perpendicularly froman inner surface of the gas collectors 45 and 46. Particularly, baffle47 a is configured to extend from a portion of the inner surface of agas collector 45, 46 opposite to another portion of the inner surface ofthe gas collector 45, 46 from which baffle 47 b extends.

An alternative embodiment of the mounting bracket 3 is illustrated inFIGS. 5A-B. The mounting bracket 3 has formed therein oblong holes 48positioned near the corners of the mounting bracket 3 for receivingscrews/studs disposed on the undersigned of the housing unit 2. Theoblong holes 48 upon receiving the screws/studs disposed on theundersigned of the housing unit 2 allows for the housing unit 2 to beremovably attached to the mounting bracket 3. The housing unit 2 beingremovable from the mounting bracket 3 permits the user to remove theapparatus for servicing including adding water, performing repairs,exchanging parts, and the like.

The electrical circuit can, for example, be provided by a controlcircuit 50 as illustrated in FIG. 6 for controlling the Hydrogensupplemental system. The control circuit 50 includes a vacuum switch 35,or other engine sensor, that provides a positive output when the engineis operating, an operator controlled switch 36 which provides thepositive output from the vacuum switch 35 when the operator controlledswitch 36 is moved to the on position, a global positioning system (GPS)51 which provides a positive output when the speed of the automobileexceeds a predetermined level, AND gate 52, or other such circuitry,that provides a positive output when both the operator controlled switch36 and the GPS 51 outputs are positive, and a switch 53 which switcheselectrical power to the electrolyzer 5 when the AND gate 52 supplies apositive output, thereby causing the electrolyzer 5 to operate when theengine is operating and the speed of the automobile exceeds apredetermined level.

The portable hydrogen supplemental system 1 operates optimally in agasoline powered engine when the load on the engine does not exceed apredetermined level and the amount of hydrogen produced by the Hydrogensupplemental system and supplied to the gasoline powered engine fallswithin a preset range.

In a gasoline powered engine the electrical power used by the Hydrogensupplemental system is supplied by the engine alternator. As describedabove the electrical power is only supplied when the engine is operatingand the speed of the automobile exceeds a predetermined level. Thus, theload placed on the engine by the Hydrogen supplemental system is relatedto the amount of electrical power drawn from the alternator as measuredin amps. Optimally the Hydrogen supplemental system works best on agasoline powered engine when the load on the engine does not exceed acurrent of 4 amps being drawn from the alternator, or if measuredanother way of 56 watts. It should be noted that the amount of amps orwatts is dependent upon the size of the engine and alternator (four, sixor eight cylinders, etc.). It should also be noted that diesel engineshave a different optimal load setting.

Further, in a gasoline powered engine the optimal amount of hydrogenproduced by the portable hydrogen supplemental system 1 and supplied tothe gasoline powered engine falls within a preset range of 0.10-0.25liters per minute.

Based on the above a gasoline powered automobile achieves the highestlevel of fuel efficiency measured in miles/gallon of gas when the loadon the engine does not exceed 4 amps, or if measured another way of 56watts, and the amount of hydrogen produced and supplied to the gasolinepowered engine falls within a preset range of 0.10-0.25 liters perminute.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that numerous modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It is intended that all such modifications fall within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable hydrogen supplemental system forsupplying hydrogen gas to an internal combustion engine comprising: ahousing unit; an electrolyzer mounted inside the housing unit thatseparates nonelectrolyte water into the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas inresponse to electrical power; a nonelectrolyte water tank mounted insidethe housing unit and positioned to supply nonelectrolyte water to theelectrolyzer; a power supply for supplying the electrical power in aform of a voltage to the electrolyzer; and an engine sensor fordetecting operation of the internal combustion engine wherein theelectrolyzer, when supplied with the electrical power, produces thehydrogen gas and the oxygen gas from the nonelectrolyte water beingsupplied from the nonelectrolyte water tank, and supplies, via thenonelectrolyte water tank, the hydrogen gas being produced to theinternal combustion engine for combustion therein, wherein theelectrolyzer is disposed external of the nonelectrolyte water tank,wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank includes first and second dividersprovided at opposite ends of the nonelectrolyte water tank to divide thenonelectrolyte water tank into a hydrogen section and an oxygen section;and wherein each divider is formed along an inner wall of thenonelectrolyte water tank and extends to a predetermined position fromthe bottom surface of the nonelectrolyte water tank such that when thenonelectrolyte water is input into the nonelectrolyte water tank, thenonelectrolyte water tank fills evenly on both sides of each of thedividers, wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank includes at least firstand second gas collection cavities at a top portion thereof forcollecting the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas respectively, the firstand second gas collection cavities each being formed by a top surface ofthe nonelectrolyte water tank, the first and second tank dividers and asurface of the nonelectrolyte water in the nonelectrolyte water tank,wherein the first gas collection cavity includes a fitting at the topthereof for outputting the hydrogen gas out of the nonelectrolyte watertank to the internal combustion engine for combustion therein, whereinthe second gas collection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereoffor outputting the oxygen gas out of the nonelectrolyte water tank,wherein the power supply supplies electrical power to the electrolyzerwhen the engine sensor detects that the internal combustion engine is inoperation, wherein the hydrogen gas supplied from the electrolyzer tothe nonelectrolyte water tank is input into the hydrogen section,travels through the nonelectrolyte water in the hydrogen section andcollects in the first gas collection cavity, wherein the oxygen gassupplied from the electrolyzer to the nonelectrolyte water tank is inputto the oxygen section, travels through the nonelectrolyte water in theoxygen gas section, and collects in the second gas collection cavity,wherein the electrolyzer comprises: a plurality of layers, the layerbeing non-liquid and each layer in adjacent contact with another one ofthe layers, wherein the plurality of layers includes at least twoexternal layers and an internal layer which is disposed in adjacentcontact between the external layers, wherein a first external layer isconnected to a positive terminal of the power supply and as such appliesthe positive side of the voltage to a first side of the internal layer,and a second external layer is connected to a negative terminal of thepower supply and as such applies the negative side of the voltage to asecond side of the internal layer, the first and second sides beingopposite sides of the internal layer, and wherein when the voltage isapplied across the first external layer, the internal layer and thesecond external layer, the electrolyzer separates the nonelectrolytewater into the oxygen gas which is output on the first side of theinternal layer and the hydrogen gas which is output on the second sideof the internal layer.
 2. A portable hydrogen supplemental systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a mounting bracket whichmounts the portable hydrogen supplemental system to a surface of avehicle which includes the internal combustion engine.
 3. A portablehydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein thenonelectrolyte water tank is positioned above the electrolyzer.
 4. Aportable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a control electrical circuit, having a switch, whichsupplies electrical power to the electrolyzer when the engine sensordetects that the internal combustion engine is in operation.
 5. Aportable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein thefirst external layer is an anode and the second external layer is acathode, and the internal layer is a membrane, wherein the plurality oflayers further comprises a first electrocatalyst disposed on the anodeand a second electrocatalyst disposed on the cathode, and the membraneis disposed between the first electrocatalyst and the secondelectrocatalyst. wherein the electrical power is applied to the anodeand the cathode in a manner to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases.
 6. Aportable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 1, wherein saidthe nonelectrolyte water tank comprises: a water supply fittingpositioned on the underside of the nonelectrolyte water tank connectedto a tube that is connected to a water inlet fitting on the electrolyte,wherein the nonelectrolyte water is supplied to the electrolyzer by thetube, and wherein the electrolyzer further includes a hydrogen gasoutlet fitting and an oxygen gas outlet fitting which are connected byother tubes to gas inlet fittings on the underside of the nonelectrolytewater tank.
 7. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according toclaim 6, wherein during operation of the electrolyzer, a small amount ofthe nonelectrolyte water, hydrogen gas bubbles and oxygen gas bubblesemerge from a hydrogen outlet and an oxygen outlet, respectively, of theelectrolyzer, and flow into the hydrogen section and the oxygen sectionof the nonelectrolyte water tank, wherein bubbles rise through thenonelectrolyte water to the upper air cavities formed by the surface ofthe nonelectrolyte water in the nonelectrolyte tank and the tankdividers such that the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas are kept separatefrom each other in the upper cavities by the tank dividers, and whereinas the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas fill their respective uppercavities, the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas flow out of the uppercavities through a hydrogen fitting and an oxygen fitting, respectively.8. A portable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 7, whereinthe hydrogen and oxygen fittings can each be replaced by a gas collectorwhich is constructed to contain baffles that serve to prevent thenonelectrolyte water from splashing into or entering the tubes.
 9. Aportable hydrogen supplemental system according to claim 8, wherein eachbaffle is configured to extend perpendicularly from an inner surface ofthe gas collector, and wherein a first baffle is configured to extendfrom a portion of the inner surface of the gas collector opposite toanother portion of the inner surface of the gas collector from which asecond baffle extends.
 10. A method of supplying hydrogen gas to aninternal combustion engine comprising: supplying, from a nonelectrolytewater tank mounted inside the housing unit, nonelectrolyte water to anelectrolyzer; detecting, by an engine sensor, operation of the internalcombustion engine; supplying, by a power supply, electrical power in theform of a voltage to the electrolyzer upon detecting that the internalcombustion engine is in operation; producing, by the electrolyzer, whensupplied with the electrical power, hydrogen and oxygen gases from thenonelectrolyte water being supplied to the electrolyzer from anonelectrolyte tank; and supplying, via the nonelectrolyte water tank,the hydrogen gas being produced to the internal combustion engine forcombustion therein, wherein the electrolyzer is disposed external of thenonelectrolyte water tank, wherein the nonelectrolyte water tankincludes first and second dividers provided at opposite ends of thenonelectrolyte water tank to divide the the nonelectrolyte water tankinto a hydrogen section and an oxygen section, and wherein each divideris formed along an inner wall of the nonelectrolyte water tank andextends to a predetermined position from the bottom surface of thenonelectrolyte water tank such that when the nonelectrolyte water isinput into the nonelectrolyte water tank, the nonelectrolyte water tankfills evenly on both sides of each of the first and second dividers,wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank includes at least first and secondgas collection cavities at a top portion thereof for collecting hydrogengas and oxygen gas respectively, the first and second gas collectioncavities each being formed by a top surface of the nonelectrolyte watertank, the first and second dividers and the surface of thenonelectrolyte water in the nonelectrolyte water tank, wherein the firstgas collection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereof foroutputting the hydrogen gas out of the nonelectrolyte water tank tot heinternal combustion engine for combustion therein, wherein the secondgas collection cavity includes a fitting at the top thereof foroutputting the oxygen gas out of the nonelectrolyte water tank, whereinthe hydrogen gas supplied from the electrolyzer to the nonelectrolytewater tank is input to the hydrogen section, travels through thenonelectrolyte water tank in the hydrogen section, and collects in thefirst gas collection cavity, wherein the oxygen gas supplied from theelectrolyzer to the nonelectrolyte water tank is input to the oxygensection, travels through the nonelectrolyte water in the oxygen section,and collects in the second gas collection cavity, wherein theelectrolyzer comprises: a plurality of layers, the layers beingnon-liquid and each layer being in adjacent contact with another one ofthe layers, wherein the plurality of layers includes at least twoexternal layers and an internal layer which is disposed in adjacentcontact between the external layers, wherein a first external layer isconnected to a positive terminal of the power supply and as such appliesthe positive side of the voltage to a first side of the internal layer,and a second external layer is connected to a negative terminal of thepower supply and as such applies the negative side of the voltage to asecond side of the internal layer, said first and second sides being onopposite sides of the internal layer, and wherein when the voltage isapplied across the first external layer, the internal layer and thesecond external layer, the electrolyzer separates the nonelectrolytewater into oxygen gas which is output on the first side of the internallayer and hydrogen gas which is output on the second side of theinternal layer.
 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein a mountingbracket mounts the portable hydrogen supplemental system to a surface ofa vehicle which includes the internal combustion engine.
 12. A methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the nonelectrolyte water tank ispositioned above the electrolyzer.
 13. A method according to claim 10,wherein a control electrical circuit, having a switch, supplieselectrical power to the electrolyzer when the engine sensor detects thatthe internal combustion engine is in operation.
 14. A method accordingto claim 10, wherein the first external layer is an anode and the secondexternal layer is a cathode, and the internal layer is a membrane,wherein the plurality of layers further include a first electrocatalystdisposed on the anode and a second electrocatalyst disposed on thecathode, and the membrane is disposed between the first electrocatalystand the second electrocatalyst, wherein the electrical power is appliedto the anode and the cathode in a manner to produce hydrogen and oxygengases.
 15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the nonelectrolytewater tank comprises: a water supply fitting positioned on the undersideof the nonelectrolyte water tank connected to a tube that is connectedto a water inlet fitting on the electrolyzer, wherein the nonelectrolytewater is supplied to the electrolyzer by the tube, and wherein theelectrolyzer further includes a hydrogen gas outlet fitting and anoxygen gas outlet fitting which are connected by other tubes to gasinlet fittings on the underside of the nonelectrolyte water tank.
 16. Amethod according to claim 15, wherein during operation of theelectrolyzer, a small amount of the nonelectrolyte water, hydrogen gasbubbles and oxygen gas bubbles emerge from a hydrogen outlet and anoxygen outlet, respectively, of the electrolyzer, and flow into thehydrogen section and the oxygen section of the nonelectrolyte watertank, wherein bubbles rise through the nonelectrolyte water to the upperair cavities formed by a surface of the nonelectrolyte water in thenonelectrolyte water tank and the first and second dividers such thathydrogen and oxygen gases are kept separate from each other in the uppercavities by the first and second dividers, and wherein as the hydrogengas and the oxygen gas fill their respective upper cavities, thehydrogen gas and the oxygen gas flow out of the upper cavities through ahydrogen fitting and an oxygen fitting, respectively.
 17. A methodaccording to claim 16, wherein the hydrogen and oxygen fittings can eachbe replaced by a gas collector which is constructed to contain bafflesthat serve to prevent the nonelectrolyte water from splashing into orentering the tubes.
 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein eachbaffle is configured to extend perpendicularly from an inner surface ofthe gas collector, and wherein a first baffle is configured to extendfrom a portion of the inner surface of the gas collector opposite toanother portion of the inner surface of the gas collector from which asecond baffle extends.
 19. A portable hydrogen supplemental systemaccording to claim 5, wherein the membrane includes a solidfluoropolymer.
 20. A method according to claim 14, wherein the membraneincludes a solid fluoropolymer.